Synopsis

Duran Duran perform "Notorious" inside a stark Manhattan warehouse, surrounded by dancers and sharp bursts of black-and-white movement. Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and John Taylor share the industrial soundstage with producer Nile Rodgers, while handheld camera work, abrupt zooms, and rapid edits create a restless, fashion-conscious atmosphere. Outdoor sequences introduce model Christy Turlington, whose cool, elusive presence contrasts with the band's tightly choreographed performance. The video favors style, rhythm, and attitude over a conventional narrative.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was filmed in a Manhattan warehouse in October 1986 and premiered on MTV on October 23, shortly after the single's release.

• Its visual style relies heavily on black-and-white Super 8 footage, handheld camerawork, rapid cutting, and sudden changes in focus and zoom.

• Paula Abdul choreographed the dancers. At the time, she was best known as a choreographer before becoming a major recording artist.

• Nile Rodgers, who produced the "Notorious" single and album, appears performing with the band in the video.

• Seventeen-year-old model Christy Turlington appears in the outdoor sequences. A photograph from the same setting was used for the cover of the "Notorious" album.

• The clip helped introduce the reduced three-member version of Duran Duran after guitarist Andy Taylor's departure from the group.

• The video has often been noted for its close visual resemblance to the earlier clips made by the same production team for Steve Winwood's "Higher Love" and Scritti Politti's "Perfect Way."